Better known by all as “Major Brand,” Jacob Brand was born on 6 March 1827 at Dorn-Dürkheim in the Duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt, attended in his youth the local community school and later learned the skills of carpentry and housebuilding. In 1848 he came to the acclaimed
country of America and on 1 June of the same year arrived in Syracuse. Here it was that he worked, one after the other, in various branches of his career. First he developed his skill as a carpenter, then he worked in the wholesale grocery business, and then later in the hardware and furniture business. Beyond that, he was for a while manager of the state arsenal (1863), administrator of a state hospital (1869), a vinegar manufacturer, an agent for several insurance companies, accountant, etc., and now he lives free from cares and peacefully in well-deserved retirement. But he does not let his free time slip away uselessly. His active spirit has also ventured into the area of inventions and so he became the “Major” owner of a patent on an artfully constructed musical instrument with 20 strings that gives a lovely and delicate sound and which would find quick entrance everywhere were it mass-produced and offered for sale. He is married to Mary Anna Unmüsig, whose parents come from the oldest German settlers in Manlius. From this marriage came nine children. “Major” Brand has a varied but honorable career behind him. Already by the year 1857 he was elected School Commissioner, in 1859 was Supervisor, and became also in the year 1857 Captain of Company B of the 51st Regiment of the N.Y. National Guards. Because of this, he was also Captain of Battery A (1864), and Major of the Artillery Battalion (1867). He also took part in the Civil War as Captain of the German Company B of the 12th and 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His name is closely linked with the history of the local Germans, and he is a prominent and respected figure of the same. His residence can be found at No. 753 North Salina Street.

Copyright 2004 Michelle Stone.
Warning! No guarantees apply concerning the accuracy of this German-to-English
translation! It is merely a rudimentary and non-professional attempt provided as a
public service
by M. Stone using a dictionary and automatic online translation services,
http://w3.systranlinks.com/systran/cgi
and
http://www.freetranslation.com/. Those who can offer improvements and corrections, please
email me.